before modern medicine, how did medieval people live to their 80s? How did they survive common conditions that could result in death like open wound infection, tooth infection, diseases, unhygienic food and water?

Question

before modern medicine, how did medieval people live to their 80s? How did they survive common conditions that could result in death like open wound infection, tooth infection, diseases, unhygienic food and water?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Well they likely were more active, more social, ate less unhealthy foods, and were exposed to fewer carcinogens. So the biggest killers of the elderly today wouldn’t apply to them.

The population of the time was largely rural, so contaminated food and water was less of the threat than you might think. As for the rest, luck would play a role there.